Jason Morgan, with Jack Walby alongside for the first time, produced a stunning drive to 10th overall and second in class in the Winner Garage Lancer Evo 6 on last weekend's Woodpecker Stages.

Round seven of the REIS/Get-Connected.com BTRDA series saw 130 crews arrive at the picturesque Ludlow racecourse for this very popular event, with just five stages making up the 44 competitive miles, which included two 12-mile tests in the fabulously fast Radnor Forest.

For Morgan and Walby the day couldn't have gone much better, as the duo gelled with every mile, and apart from a couple of half spins, the two youngsters produced a superb result in what is only Morgan's fourth event in the 300 bhp Lancer, which was previously owned by his father Bob years ago.

"Over the moon, top 10 on a BTRDA event, had a real good day, stages were excellent and Jack was superb on the notes, really looking forward to the next event now," said a delighted Morgan.

Just behind in 14th overall and fourth in class,was Jason's dad Bob with Ade Williams alongside debuting a brand new Skoda Fabia VR5, the car designed and built by Bob, with a lot of Mitsubishi running gear, and apart from a few niggling problems had a very promising debut in the new car.

"We have a few small things to sort out but the car is good, and has attracted a lot of attention today," said Williams.

Ross-on-Wye duo Roger Matthews and Paul Morris took 25th overall and fifth historic home and with another set of maximum Welsh historic points in the RJ Matthews Transport Escort RS1600, competition in the historic section was very strong.

Matthews started well, holding a strong fourth historic after the opening three tests, swapping times with the RS1800s of Simon Tysoe, Terry Brown and the RS1600 of BTRDA historic championship leader Pete Smith/

With these four all very close no quarter was asked or given with the battle looking as it was going down to the wire, but on the last stage in Haye Park, Matthews landed heavy over a big jump, not realising at the time he'd broken the rear differential.

"It was touch and go if we'd get to the end, I had it in my head the jump was worse the other way, but I was wrong, we landed hard on one rear wheel and had a bit of a moment sorting it out, but we got maximum Welsh historic points, so I am pleased with that," said Matthews.

Colin Webb and Matt Rogers in the Forest of Dean Tyres-backed BMW 325 had another good day at the office with a fine 30th overall and first in class, an overshoot in the first Radnor test was caused by a bit of rear brake fade was there only serious problem, although trying to stop the heavy BMW on the ultra fast stages saw them use eight rear tyres.

The result also saw the crew wrap up class B12, in both Welsh National and Clubman championships.

Kevin Pugh and Karen Phelps finished 58th and eighth in class in their two litre Astra.

Bart Lang with Simon Cox picked up more Millers Oils class points taking 85th overall, third in class in there little Nissan Micra.

Those not fortunate to see the finish included Simon Tysoe and Cliff Simmons in the historic spec Escort RS1800, they were embroiled in a great battle with the Escorts of Terry Brown, Roger Matthews and Pete Smith, but in the final stage with less than two miles to go, the ignition pack failed and they were out leaving a very disappointed crew to explain the days events.

"We'd just moved up to fourth historic going into the last stage, and were going to try and catch Terry (Brown) for third, and as we came into this hairpin she just died on us.

"Totally gutted, as we'd had a great day up to then, but that's rallying I suppose," said Cliff.

There was not such good news for Rob Weir and Ben Giles in WLE Escort RS1800, when a big high speed accident in Radnor put both crew members in hospital, thankfully without serious injury.

Dan Evans with Tom Marrott had a somewhat shortlived event when gearbox selection problems halfway through the opening test eventually led to their retirement at the end of the stage, but still set fifth fastest 1400 time in the 1400 Nova, despite having just second gear for over two miles.

Ross Leach and Rebecca Goatman retired their Peugeot 205 in stage four.

The overall event was won by Forest of Dean motor club members Conor McCloskey and Francis Regan in the Subaru S9 WRC by just two seconds from the Ford Focus WRC O8 of Steve Petch and Ian Windress with an older Focus WRC of Scots duo Euan Thorburn and Paul Beaton just six seconds in arrears, in fact Petch had led all day going into the last nine mile test four seconds up on McCloskey, with Thorburn breathing down their necks.